Seat roll construction fixture



July 17, 1951 G. LGI-:REER 2,561,108

. .SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE Y Filed June14, 195o 'f5 sheets-sheet 1 george Arer July`17, 1951 'V G. l.. GERBER 2,561,103

SEAT ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE v Fixed June 14, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 2 Ge'o 667567 July 17, 1951 G. L. GERBER 2,561,108

SEAT ROLL CNSTRUCTION FIXTURE Filed June 14, 1950 S'Sheets-Sheet 3 G. l..v GERBER sur ROLL coNsrRuc'L-Ion FIXTURE. 1

July 17, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 14, d1950 @07:96 Z. erbr July 17,1951 G. GERBER slm ROLL CONSTRUCTION FIXTURE HUM. lll).

Filed .nine 14, 195o 'WIW' Cjreofg'e 1.661656?" ture. .stap,le-securementv of. covering fabrics to spring assembly units such as are employed in sofaa. vparlorichairs' and other living room pieces.

Patented July 17, 1951 UNITE-n STA-r es PATENT oF FICE Gr'eorgeLL.` Gerber, Naperville,. Ill.',.. assigner to.

Kroehler MfgC`o.,.Napervill`e, Ill., a;corp ,oration:

Application Junefld, 1950;:S`erial Nox-zv1685059zf (CII 1.-2)

7 Clahns.

Thee presen-t .t invention relates tof.. production A limesy manufacturing apparatus for. assembling various kindsaofcushion .for upholstered. furni- It is: more particularly. concerned.Y With This1applicationislcompanion to `co-pending application'Serial Nos 163,587 liledvMay 23, 1950,

'inzwhich therefarefrevealed .certain novel .im-

provements in :the manufacture.. of parlor furniturerfseat cushions-.characterized by their teach.- ingaona novelwedge roll .or lip .formation which serves purposeiof retaining one.` or.y moreloose rremovabler-cushionsv.such as are customarily plaoedpvemcushionfspping bases-whereby vto prevent: such: cushions .f from.. creepingl or` otherwise becoming dislodged. As revealedin said corpendf ing 'application they improved edge roll struc-tures oonsistof an especially, formed foundation lip 'achieved by; eccentric vdeformation .of .the/.uppermost1corlvolutions of uae. frontrow Iofseat` cushion springsfsozas tosproduce afskeletonor foundation amdii. over which af padded. ledge:` is thereafter made secure.

Theinstantzinvention concerns itself with special service apparatus which is adapted toliandle such". deformed convolution. spring assemblies andswhich fastensby staplestitching theeecentricY ydeformations yosf such springs to` an overlay padding; assembly including.; a matted .Y sisal Y pad having substantial. thicknessA to. protect@ users "from :the discomfortoffthefcoil wire-irregularities.

The'proble'm presented in `the practicevof this invention is :one'aof appropriatelyaccommodating vaminitary assemblya of; such springsiin .which .the oorrespondingfconvolutionsf.E are parallellyf deformed so asto facilitate-the staple-stitehirigV op- .erationzin a facile and:expeditious s manner. with thefrobject' .in view oflperformingsthe vseaux-ement operation under high productivity methods of factory! assembly;4 Inthis; manner the cost elezmexrtr.. with; particularrconcern to feconomy.. .and inallibility, mayA bemaintainedlow by relatively miskilledorat' best moderately skilledzlabortechnicians: Because :it .isfalso .apurpose ofA this'inventtinnz tokw perform the"` aforedescribed. stapling 'operation after certainsubassembly components have. been separateiy'fintegrated into, itis of sig- 'nicance thatr ther apparatus of the instant invention is especiallyy suited to thev handling of Aspringfcushionfsubassemblies f and cover unit subassemblies, each of which has/'been brought up `to complete integration, without encountering. conmctaiin respectito aocessibilityand variation.` dimensionwise.

I machine .mechanism .showing .how a locatingspot oversbufied. chairs..` and' duahpurpose; davenports Accordingly, the principal 'ob'jectof thepresent invention.. is., one. which. may be. expressed' as achieving a.. Work.tab1e. and staplingy machine combination suited to. the.. purposey of staple.- stitching multiple coil spring. convolutions having comparatively rigid .physical dimensions .to a sub.- assembly of covering. fabrics.. under conditions of rapid handling and execution.

Another. object of the present .invention is `one of accommodating-acushion spring .assembly and covering. unitthrough mutual. integration.opera tions.where the. springs of said. assembly` arene.- formed furthe.- nurpose of producing .a foundation forlapadded :lip oredgeroll. effect.

Further.. and additional. important objectszof this. invention are; suchas. will become.. evident from :af readingof the. hereunto .appended claims.

In the. accompa-ruling..` drawings?-y Eig. 1..-is afront. elevational view of a .Work ytable and stapli-ng.machine` apparatushaving. embodied therein certain :featuresorthe: present invention,

Fig. .2. isai side.,elevational. View of. the.. same apparatus :with portions.- broken. away,

Eig., 3 fis-a. plan view ofthe.. apparatus featured A.inligsA l and Zshowing. thefworktablerin solid and. dotted outline.. to. :denotealternative angles of relationship thereof ...with the stapling machine,

Fig, 44s.. an enlarged detailedsectionalview taken approximately on 1line .ll-tof Fig. 3,.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational viewrmshowingrgthe worktable .sansthe4 apparatus structurereatured rin Fig.. 4.

Eig. 6 isfatperspective view. of anupholstered base cushion: and i itsf applied,- covering. produced in accordance. with the teachings of4 the co.-pend ing f application .referred to. above.

Fig...7 isa further, enlargedfragmentary detailed view.H of a l.principal stitch-staple` .construction .suchas is. used with-deformed convolutions by the apparatus rfeatured -.in Figs. 1-3,

.8,-is an Aenlarged..fragmentary perspective view-A of one :of the. work retaining brackets -carried at-.each end; of, the. supporting.. table structure,

Fig.. Sis-anenlaIged sideelevational View., partially4 inseetion, showing-the floor. mounting ,and treadle.- apparatus. which2 relate.- to.. the principal structures featured in 1. .and..3, ,and

Fig. 1.0 -isan enlargediragmentary perspective View of `a.portion.oitheworlr table :and stapling lightis employed.. for. accurately. determining .the precise` staple area. in advance. of.. each staple forming and securing operation.

Articles of furnituresuch aa dirons.

At the intersection of these joist springs or rods 24 and 25 there are secured' in any of several well known manners of practice upstanding' helical compression springs 25 of conical or hypoid outline, so shaped as to present uppermost their largest-in-diameter convolutions 21. 4.These springs are preformed so ,that the aforesaid outermost convolutions 21 are eccentrically bent or deformed, see Figs. 4 and 5, producing angling lip formations 28 that possess a common angular relationship with the planes in which the majo portion of their convolutions 21 lie'. 'I

The aforedescribed spring deformations are characteristic of the front row only of the multiple rows of springs which constitute the basic spring assembly best portrayed in Fig. 6. Various methods are employed for stabilizing thesesprin'gs to yieldably maintain their upright position such as by interlashing with cross connector elements or as by interweaving with continuously traversing so-called pigtail coils. In addition, the entire assembly is made more secure Yby being perimetrically bounded with a form wire 29 adapted to lie in the principal plane which is common to all of the convolutions 21. Form wire 29 is made to conform further with the assembly by being bent as at 3|, Fig. 6, angularly incorrespondence with At each point of tanthe lip deformations 23. gency where the form Wire 29 circumscribes the outermost convolutions 21 it is lashed thereto by an enveloping clamp 32 and in this, Way the metallic assembly of spring is rendered integral and relatively rigid while at the same time there is aiforded the desired degree of yield or compressibility for making the base cushion unit comfortably compressive to accommodate the general purpose and objects of upholstered parlor furnijure.

After the metallic spring assemblyT has been Vin- `tegrated in the manner generally outlined above,

it is necessary to cover the entire structure with a subassembly of several fabrics Whose purposes are to conceal, supply smoothness, and form padding, as well as to provide adornment or ornamentation which' characterizes in color and style each particular article of furniture. For example, there will be observed that the assembled lcoil springs are covered by a thickness or pad of matted sisal 33 which consists of an intertwined and evenly distributed fibrous pad well known under other methods of furniture manufacture and preferably having one or the other of its surfaces dipped into a plastic binder such as rubber. The length and width of pad 33 is usually such as to overlie and extend beyond the perimetric outlining wire 29. The'outermost edge of pad 33, see Figs. 4, 5 and 10, is stitched as on a stitch line 34 to a burlapstrain relieving fabric 35 vwhich in the ultimate product remains concealed from view, having its free end anchored to a nailing strip `36 or otherwise made fast as suits particular manufacturing preferences.

Parallelingthe row of stitching34, Fig.` 5, the

several fabrics generally referred to above are in 4 l advance secured to one another and to a narrow cardboard form strip 31 by a row of metal stitching staples 38. Included in this integration of fabrics and form strip 31, in addition to the already described sisal pad 33 are a pair of fabrics designated 39 and 4l. The latter two, as may be discerned from Figs. 4 and 6, include the utility covering 39 which encases completely the spring assembly structure in respect to its top and three of its peripheral sides, while the ornamentation fabric is doubled over to retain the edge roll padding strip 42 and thereafter parallels and conceals the already discussed strain relieving fabric 35, being also nailed to the bottom structure as at the nailing strip 36 or alternatively to impaling prongs as disclosed in the co-pending application.

The present invention concerns itself with certain procedural steps in the assembly as a result of which the springs 26, and more particularly'the uppermost convolutionsof them 21, are made fast to the sisal pad 33. To accomplish this association and securement under production live methods of treatment, the subassembly of fabrics featured in Figs. 4 and 5 is turned inside out and laid with the sisal pad 33 topmost on an inclined-plane work table 43. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1-4, the table 43 is mounted on a suitable base sup'- port or frame generally designated 44, that is supported on four roller wheels 45 directionally disposed in a manner to describe an arcuate travel course on which they may be expected to roll, see particularly Fig. 3. In this way the work table 43 may be made to assume the solid outlined position or dotted outlined position alternatively, as the stapling machine A46 maintains permanently the position shown thereat and also in Fig. 2. The purpose of affording the arcuate path adjustable alignment table 43 is one of accommodating for the par'- -ticular angular placement of i the `securing. staples 41 or 48, Fig. 5, since the two straightsided sections of the spring deflection 2B angle in symmetrical opposition with respect to each other as well as to the principal convolution 21. In operation, therefore, when the table 43 is placed into either of its alternative positions, the operator will slide the spring assembly and the fabric subassembly, one placed upon the other, longitudinally across the table at the same time completing the placing and securement of all of the staples 48 and thereafter by reversing the position of the table 43 repeat the same procedure in placing all of the staples 41. It has been found that by performing these operations in thisV manner the accomplishmentof full staple securement involving the integration of the convolutions 21 to the sisal pad 33 is attainable most expeditiously and within the shortest operating time.

The swinging of the table 43 on its `roller wheels 45 while maintaining rm anchorage of the center portion in respect to the stapling machine 4E may be made a more infallible and easier to manipulate function by providing' a pivot sleeve 49, Fig. 9, which extends downwardly from a mounting fixture 5I, bolted as at 52 to the principal structure 44 of the frame work. The pivot sleeve 49 rests over and receives an upstanding pintle 53 which is made fast to the stapling machine by rigidifying brackets 54 shown in Fig. 9 to be bedded as at 55 in a concrete floor. The brackets 54 may also pass through the yfooting 56 or ba'se portieri of 'the stapling machine 46. '-2

' Si; 68T," 130B f Ar'tlie'front of tnezstapling'maciiine u and ,'.near 'the center 'oftiie table" n 'there i`s"'provide'd easy accessi 'by "the 'cperatorsfbot' a' treaule 51, ,preferably spring loaded; and* adapted 'to 'control an 'electric contact'elementin the manner "well known' 'in 'stapling' machine' control whereby' Vior ve'a'ch itreadle' operation' a single stapling'forming" 'and' applying performance' is accomplished. The` manner 'in 'which tneei'ectrlixal'c'ircuitfor performing supervision over' 'the `stapling"machine operated'mrms 'no part' of 'the' present invention'but' instead' may be" 'any one 'of 'several' Well 'known' .ctmtrcl'y 'systems Apnactii'fed"in'the'art o'f' staple operation;

As the work; is slidacross' the'inc'lineutable'ta a'narrownorizontal'tablefledge 58", 4 mail), which' "forms the' saine. angle" with. respect 'to 'the' principal table surface: 3i-'asi characteristic ol''tn'e' nare of" the deflected' spring' portions '2B respect' v'to' their convolu'tlons' '2LT 'is' 4provided or'the' purpose of affording' adequate? '.l'e'dg'e support' to 'the assembly asitv isr slld vllni'g'i'tu- 'aina-ily and `progressively `from spring to" spring .to align the respective spring vportions with the 'stapling'macnine hammer and anvil'i. Proper alignment-iis 'in 'this Way .made 'kn'oivn to the operator before4 'he steps' upon foot` treadle '51, bymeans of a.bullseye lighting apparatus' 62 carried on a'n adjustable bracket 63 which is mounted as at4 tothe stapling head 65. The` beam of light G6v which emanates from the lighting nxture 62 is convergent so as to produce a small arear locating circle 61, Fig. 5, at the proper place in the wire of deflected spring portion 23 whereafter the depression and actuation of the stapling head and its encounter with the stapling anvil 69 may be predetermined with finite reliability and accuracy.

Since the Width of spring cushions may vary within limited ranges it has been found expedient to provide an adjustment as shown in Fig. 8 which includes a pair of slideable side brackets 1|, wing-nut secured as at 12, to the table 43 and carrying an angle bracket 13. This bracket extending across the full length of the table. Figs. 2 and 3, prevents the spring cushion assembly from becoming misaligned as it is slid along the table 43. In this way the securing staples l1 and 48 may be applied to integrate the fabric and steel spring s ubassemblies to one another with maximum efficiency and under high production speed methods.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood nevertheless that numerous variations and modifications are susceptible of incorporation without departing from its essential spirit or scope. It is accordingly not intended to be limited, for an understanding of the invention to the particular illustrations shown in the accompanying drawings. nor to the arbitrary language chosen in the foregoing description but instead to be afforded a latitude of interpretation as is inherent in the hereunto appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for stitching together a spring lled steel subassembly and a, multiple fabric and padding subassembly which comprises, a Work table carried upon a mobile support structure, caster wheels under said support structure disposed to direct said structure to be rolled to and fro about an arcuate path, an automatic staple forming and clinching machine associated with said structure and work table. a pivotal articula- 'tion'oonnecting said' 'structure'with a'base 'portion of' saidi stapleforming and vclinching' machine and constituting'the pivotal center of saidarcuate path', anda 'ccntroltreadl'e for operating said 'sta'- piing machine'nrounted 'upon said' structure.

T2'. production line stitch-'stapling apparatus forv securingto' furniture 'base spring'ass'emblies thelr'fabrld'and pad'c/O've'rings which comprises, a work'table'having'an inclined surfaceportion mergngvwi'th. a hor'lzontalsurface portion', said umrk 'table being' mounted upon` arigid' support 'base and'bein'g provided'at its approximat'ecenter beneath sa'id horizontal surface portion with' a pivot coupling element. a staple forming" and clinching machine' electrically operated 'and hav- 'ingl a'base extremity. on which is carried'4 a coop'- era't'ing coupling element' for affording avertieal pivot with .said rstmcntioned pivot coupli'ng'el'e'- ment, a work support guide transversely'a'djustableon said Work table inclined surface portion for maintaining superimposed spring and 'fabric `assern'lclie'es finlngitudinal parallelism as theya're advanced during 'line stitching by said machine, .anda v.light beam projecting apparatus -adjustably supportedonfsaid machine vfor precisely locating staple'applcation areas on said assemblies.

3'; A special vpurpose assembly line apparatus for' staple stitchingonto a springfllled subassem- 4bly-a .multipleIabric and overlay padding' sub- -assembly which comprises. a work supporting table carried upon a pivoting base structure, Wheels under said pivoting structure placed to roll about an arcuate path, guide fixtures adjustably securable to said table for confining Work advanced thereon to parallel linear movement, an automatic staple forming and clinching machine associated with said work table, and a pivotal articulation connecting said structure with a base portion of said staple forming and clinching machine and constituting the pivotal center of said arcuate path.

4. An assembly line stitch stapling apparatus for securing to metallic base spring subassemblies their covering subassemblies which comprises a work table having an inclined surface portion merging with a horizontal surface portion at an angle which corresponds to that at which an edge row of the metallic springs of said subassemblies have their uppermost convolutions angularly and in parallel alignment bent, said work table being mounted upon a support base provided at its approximate center beneath said horizontal surface portion with a pivot element, a staple forming and clinching machine having a base extremity on which is carried a cooperating pivot element for forming a vertical axis pivot with said rst mentioned pivot element, guide means transversely adjustable on said work table inclined surface portion for directing said subassemblies parallelly, and a light beam projecting apparatus carried by said stapling machine for indicating the striking area of staples applied and clinched by said machine.

5. A machine for securing fabric covering subassemblies to seat cushion spring coil su-bassemblies in which the forward row of spring coils have their uppermost convolutions parallelly and similarly deformed to provide a seat roll lip foundation comprising, a principal Work table having an inclined portion to support the major area of the spring coil subassemblies and a horizontal surface portion to support the deformed parallel spring convolution portions, a machine for automatically forming wire staples from a coil of supply Wire and for applying and clinching said wie@ 7 staples to integrate said forward row of spring coils along a stitch row to the fabric subassemblies, vertical pivot means coupling said work table with said stapling machine, said vertical pivot means having its pivot axis in vertical alignment with the staple applying and clinching area of said machine, a roller system for permitting said work table to be rotated within a limited arc radius about said vertical pivot, and means adjustably Carried by said work table for confining work supported thereupon for travel in longitudinal parallelism with said work table whilst maintaining constant spaced alignment With respect to said stapling area.

6. A production line apparatus for applying stitching staples to upholstery fabrics comprising an electrically operated stitching staple forming and clinching machine having a target anvil at a horizontal level and a stapling hammer disposed for opera-tion over said anvil, a base por- J lbe slid longitudinally along the surface of said table parallelly whereby to expose successive areas in a linear path to the staple applying elements of said stapling machine.

7. An assembly line apparatus for stapling fabric covering subassem-blies to seat cushion spring coil subassemblies in which the forward row of spring coils have their uppermost convolutions similarly deformed to provide a seat row lip foundation comprising, a principal table having one surface inclined to support the maior area of the spring coil subassembly and another surface for supporting the alignment of deformed spring convolution portions, a machine for automatically forming wire staples from a coll of supply' Wire and for applying and clinching said staples to encompass said spring coil convolutions and their adjacent fabric coverings, vertical pivot means for articulating said table and said stapling machine, said vertical pivot means being ,in vertical alignment with the staple applying and clinching apparatus of said machine, a roller support structure for permitting said work table to be rotatably adjusted ywithin an arc about said vertical pivot, and means carried by said work table for guiding work supported thereupon to travel in longitudinal parallelism with said Work table.

GEORGE L. GERBER.

No references cited. 

